The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party, has made a bold statement about the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.
The party claims to know who is behind the demonstrations that took place across the country in August.
The protests, which occurred from August 1 to 10, saw many Nigerians and various groups take to the streets.
They were protesting against the severe economic hardships facing the country.
On Monday, at a press conference held at the PDP headquarters in Abuja, Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, addressed the issue.
He stated that the real sponsor of the protests was not any individual or group but rather the widespread hunger and economic difficulties that people are facing.
Ologunagba criticized the federal government for its response to the protests.
He pointed out that rather than addressing the root cause of the unrest, which he identified as hunger and economic hardship, the government has taken a different approach.
The PDP spokesman highlighted the recent arrest of Joe Ajearo, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), as an example of the government’s heavy-handed tactics.
Ajearo was detained amid the unrest, and his arrest has been a point of contention.
Ologunagba emphasized the need for caution. He expressed frustration over the government’s actions, which he described as inadequate in addressing the true causes of public dissatisfaction.
According to Ologunagba, the government’s approach has been to label some protesters as terrorists and charge them in court, rather than tackling the issues that drove the protests.
He said, “There is a need for caution. There was a protest in this country, and the government did not do anything to address the root cause.
“Instead, they arrest some people and label them as terrorists, charging them to court. They claim to know the sponsors of the protest, but the real sponsor is hunger.
“The President and his officials should focus on addressing hunger. If they do, there will be no problem.”
Ologunagba also called on the federal government to reconsider its policies. He criticized what he described as draconian measures that have led to severe economic strain on ordinary Nigerians.
He noted that this period, when schools are resuming, is particularly difficult for many families.
The PDP’s comments come at a time when the government is facing increasing scrutiny over its handling of economic issues and public dissent.
The #EndBadGovernance protests have highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with the current state of governance and the economic challenges faced by many Nigerians.
The party’s stance reflects a broader criticism of the government’s response to public unrest.
The PDP argues that addressing the underlying economic problems would be more effective in calming public discontent than punitive measures against protesters.
